Lindsey Vonn continues remarkable comeback with World Cup ski victory at 41
Lindsey Vonn’s extraordinary comeback from retirement and serious knee surgery gathered pace on Friday when she became the oldest skier to win a World Cup race at the age of 41. It was Vonn’s first downhill victory for nearly eight years, and the first in her comeback with titanium implants in her right knee. After her victory was confirmed, Vonn first collapsed into the snow before thrusting her ski poles in the air to celebrate. View image in fullscreen Lindsey Vonn on her way to victory in San Moritz. “I’m actually really excited for Super-G because I’m skiing better in Super-G than I am in downhill.”The previous oldest World Cup race winner was Switzerland’s Didier Cuche at 37 in a men’s Super-G in 2012.
Source:The Guardian
December 12, 2025 12:35 UTC
Eurovision winner Nemo to return trophy in protest at Israel taking part in 2026
Nemo, the Swiss singer who won the 2024 Eurovision song contest, has said they are handing back their trophy in protest over Israel’s participation in next year’s event. The 26-year-old, the first non-binary winner of the contest, said on Thursday there was “a clear conflict” between the Eurovision ideals of “unity, inclusion and dignity for all” and the decision to allow Israel to compete. They were joined on Wednesday by Iceland, where the board of the national broadcaster RÚV voted not to participate. The contest was repeatedly used to soften the image of a state accused of severe wrongdoing, all while the EBU insisted Eurovision is ‘non-political’. Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, has said Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage around the world”.
Source:The Guardian
December 12, 2025 00:46 UTC
Economic growth no longer linked to carbon emissions in most of the world, study finds
The once-rigid link between economic growth and carbon emissions is breaking across the vast majority of the world, according to a study released ahead of Friday’s 10th anniversary of the Paris climate agreement. Countries representing 92% of the global economy have now decoupled consumption-based carbon emissions and GDP expansion, according to the report by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU). Between 2015 and 2023, China’s consumption-based emissions rose 24%, less than half the growth of its economy (more than 50%). For the past 18 months, its emissions have plateaued and many analysts believe they may have peaked. For most of the past two decades US emissions have been falling, according to the authors of the report.
Source:The Guardian
December 11, 2025 18:40 UTC
Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv’s SBU cripples shadow fleet tanker in Black Sea
Ukrainian sea drones on Wednesday hit and disabled a tanker involved in trading Russian oil as it sailed through Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea to the Russian port of Novorossiysk, a Ukrainian official said. The attack is the third sea drone strike in two weeks on vessels part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” of unregulated and often western-sanctioned ships helping Moscow export oil to fund the war. “The SBU continues to take active measures to reduce petrodollar revenues to the Russian budget,” said the official. The war was putting “more women at risk of dying and more pregnancies ending in life-threatening complications” said Florence Bauer, the agency’s director for eastern Europe. Despite Trump’s capricious attitude to Ukraine and European allies, lawmakers included several provisions meant to keep up US support for countering Russian aggression.
Source:The Guardian
December 11, 2025 06:52 UTC
Come with me to Jacob Rees-Mogg’s house. The Brexiters are rattled – and it shows | Polly Toynbee
Our host, Rees-Mogg, was in jubilant form, celebrating Keir Starmer’s recent speeches that named the economic damage done by Brexit. Are they right that Labour reopening the Brexit wound will reignite toxic old referendum passions? Its leaders were in it for fun and personal advancement: the Tory party was destroyed by it, only Nigel Farage has benefited. But the dam has broken because there is no disguising the truth about what Brexit does to UK growth. That’s a good reminder of how they won the referendum: these cavalier romancers trounced the roundhead number-cruncher remainers.
Source:The Guardian
December 09, 2025 21:30 UTC
European leaders rally behind Ukraine in Downing Street talks
But Downing Street said “positive progress” was made on the issue during crisis talks hosted in Downing Street with Zelenskyy, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz. View image in fullscreen Friedrich Merz, Keir Starmer, Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron in 10 Downing Street on Monday. During the meeting, leaders “underscored the need for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine” including “robust security guarantees” against further Russian aggression, Downing Street said. A spokesperson for the Belgian prime minister said he would be meeting Starmer in Downing Street to discuss “priorities like migration, supporting Ukraine, European security and mutual economic growth”. View image in fullscreen Keir Starmer welcomes Emmanuel Macron outside 10 Downing Street.
Source:The Guardian
December 09, 2025 15:29 UTC
The Guardian view on solar geoengineering: Africa has a point about this risky technology | Editorial
It is fitting that this week’s UN environment talks are in Nairobi, with Africa shaping the global climate conversation. While not on the formal summit agenda, on the sidelines they are arguing that it’s time to stop promoting solar geoengineering technology as a solution to global heating. The reason for a moratorium is obvious: solar geoengineering doesn’t cut greenhouse-gas emissions. Yet an industry is being built on the idea that someone can take charge of the global thermostat. Mexico banned solar geoengineering experiments in 2023, after an unauthorised trial over its territory by a US startup.
Source:The Guardian
December 08, 2025 21:34 UTC
‘He’s got something against the world’: Bellamy reignites feud with Canada’s Marsch
Craig Bellamy has revived his feud with Jesse Marsch after Wales were put on the same World Cup path as co-hosts Canada. Bellamy felt slighted by Marsch and his staff celebrating with touchline high fives before the final whistle sounded on Canada’s 1-0 September friendly victory in Swansea. “I’ve got nothing against that guy, by the way, I think he’s got something against the world. Victory would see them play Italy or Northern Ireland at home five days later for a place at the World Cup. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com to send you this newsletter.
Source:The Guardian
December 08, 2025 18:36 UTC
Britain’s Norris pips Verstappen to win maiden F1 world title after third place in Abu Dhabi – as it happened
I guess that’s what he did.” View image in fullscreen Lewis Hamilton congratulates Lando Norris on his world title. Photograph: Amr Alfiky/Reuters Share Updated at 14.38 GMT1h ago 14.30 GMT Lando Norris is F1 world champion! What a season, and what a moment for Lando Norris after a season full of twists, turns, pain and drama. Meanwhile, Ana de Armas is out trackside, ready to wave the chequered flag as Lando Norris’ family watch on. Live title standings:1) Norris 423 (15pts today)2) Verstappen 421 (25pts)3) Piastri 410 (18pts) View image in fullscreen McLaren driver Lando Norris hunting his maiden title.
Source:The Guardian
December 07, 2025 15:30 UTC
C of E to challenge Tommy Robinson’s ‘put Christ back into Christmas’ message
The posters, which will go on display at bus stops, say “Christ has always been in Christmas” and “Outsiders welcome”. Photograph: Church of EnglandThe C of E’s decision to challenge Robinson’s extreme rightwing stance comes amid growing unease among church leaders about the rise of Christian nationalism and the appropriation of Christian symbols to bolster the views of his supporters. Last week, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, announced next weekend’s Christmas carol event at an undisclosed outdoor venue in central London. View image in fullscreen Last week, Robinson announced next weekend’s Christmas carol event at an undisclosed outdoor venue in central London. Photograph: Ben Whitley/PAThe C of E posters are part of a wider response to Robinson and Unite the Kingdom from a number of churches.
Source:The Guardian
December 07, 2025 15:09 UTC
How three Uyghur brothers fled China – to spend 12 years in an Indian prison
After two months of interrogation by the military, the brothers were handed over to local police to face charges of illegally crossing the border. Unable to communicate in any Indian language, the three men struggled to navigate the legal system. View image in fullscreen An India border police report about the brothers’ arrest in 2013, which describes them as ‘Chinese intruders’. For the past decade Shafi has been fighting for their release on a pro bono basis, but the Indian government remains unmoved. While in prison, the three brothers have learned four local languages as well as English by talking to inmates and reading books and newspapers.
Source:The Guardian
December 05, 2025 15:30 UTC
The AI boom is heralding a new gold rush in the American west
View image in fullscreen Pyramid Lake, at the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation, is fed by the Truckee River and is located about 40 miles north-east of Reno. Situated at the base of several mountain ranges, the lake is owned by the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and entirely surrounded by the tribe’s reservation. The Pyramid Lake Paiute’s petroglyphs date back 10,000 to 14,000 years BCE, the oldest in North America. Next to the deep green of Pyramid Lake was a large, flat, white mass, the remnants of a second lake. On the reservation at Pyramid Lake, Wadsworth said rolling brownouts are common during the hot summer months.
Source:The Guardian
December 05, 2025 15:25 UTC
Four countries to boycott Eurovision 2026 as Israel cleared to compete
Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands will boycott next year’s Eurovision after Israel was given the all-clear to compete in the 2026 song contest despite calls by several participating broadcasters for its exclusion over the war in Gaza. In response, the Irish broadcaster RTÉ said it would not participate in the 2026 contest or broadcast the competition. Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, welcomed the decision on his country’s participation, saying Israel “deserves to be represented on every stage around the world”. ORF, the Austrian host broadcaster, had also said it wanted Israel to compete. SWR said before the meeting that Israel was entitled to compete in the contest.
Source:The Guardian
December 05, 2025 15:22 UTC
US skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle kicks off Olympic push with Beaver Creek downhill podium
He’s been consistent in the event and hasn’t finished outside of the top seven in a World Cup downhill race since 2023. This was his fifth World Cup downhill win. He’s the first American to be on a World Cup downhill podium in Beaver Creek since Steven Nyman finished third in 2014. The last American racer to win a World Cup downhill at Beaver Creek was Bode Miller in 2011. Earlier in the day, organizers announced the super-G race would be moved to Friday with the weather forecast not looking favorable for Saturday.
Source:The Guardian
December 05, 2025 14:58 UTC
‘One of the most breathtaking cathedrals in the world’: readers’ favourite churches in Europe
Yes, all of that, but something more, something that finally made me understand what people get out of churches. Robert StroudProfile Readers' tips: send a tip for a chance to win a £200 voucher for a Coolstays break Show Guardian Travel readers' tips Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage - Was this helpful? Photograph: Joern Sackermann/AlamyIn the Ruhr, south of Essen, is the town of Neviges in which stands one of the most breathtaking and individual cathedrals in the world. AmyOrkney shrine built by Italian prisoners of warView image in fullscreen The Italian Chapel was built from Nissen huts in the mid-1940s.
Source:The Guardian
December 05, 2025 14:36 UTC